An Gúm

An Gúm is an Irish-language publishing agency and historic public-sector publishing imprint whose work is focused on books and resources that support education through Irish and the wider use of the language. The name means “the scheme,” “plan” or “project,” reflecting the organisation’s origins as a state-backed publication scheme rather than a conventional commercial publishing house. The agency was established in 1925 within the Department of Education of the Irish Free State. Its initial purpose was practical and cultural: the state’s policy of reviving Irish required a dependable supply of textbooks, school materials and general reading in the language. An Gúm therefore became an important institutional mechanism for creating and distributing Irish-language content at a time when the domestic publishing infrastructure for Irish was limited. It also provided financial and editorial support for writers producing original work in Irish, helping publish authors including Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Seosamh Mac Grianna and Tomás Ó Criomhthain. It continues to publish new editions of significant works associated with the development of modern Irish literature. Translation formed a substantial part of the agency’s early activity. An Gúm published Irish versions of works by British, American and Irish authors, as well as some translations from other European languages, including short stories by Anton Chekhov. Translation policy attracted criticism in the early period, particularly in relation to the choices made under the influence of Ernest Blythe. From the 1940s onward, literary translation became less prominent relative to original Irish writing and other publishing priorities, although translated material remained part of the agency’s broader history. The organisation’s remit has extended beyond prose and educational textbooks. An Gúm supported Irish-language drama, including translations intended to enlarge the repertoire available to Irish-language theatre. It also published musical scores, including works prepared for educational use. During the 1930s and 1940s, this activity gave contemporary Irish composers such as Rhoda Coghill, Aloys Fleischmann, Redmond Friel, Carl Hardebeck, John F. Larchet and Éamon Ó Gallchobhair one of the few available publishing outlets for new music. Lexicography is one of An Gúm’s best-known areas of work. Foclóir Póca, a pocket Irish-English and English-Irish dictionary, became a widely used reference work and is described by Foras na Gaeilge as an all-time bestseller in Ireland. The agency has also published major dictionaries associated with Niall Ó Dónaill and Tomás de Bhaldraithe. In the twenty-first century, its lexicographical work expanded to include the New English-Irish Dictionary and the Concise English-Irish Dictionary, published in 2020 as a shorter work derived from the larger project. An Gúm remained part of the Department of Education until 1999. Following the Belfast Agreement, its functions were transferred to Foras na Gaeilge, the cross-border body responsible for promoting Irish throughout the island of Ireland. This institutional change gave An Gúm an all-Ireland identity while preserving its core publishing and resource-development role. Its current mission is to produce publications and resources supporting Irish-medium education and the use of Irish generally. Its work includes resources for Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna, dictionaries, terminology and lexicographical materials, literary publications, reprints and other Irish-language content. Edel Ní Chorráin is identified as Director of Publishing, Lexicography and Terminology Services.

An Gúm was founded in 1925 as part of the Department of Education of the Irish Free State. Its creation followed the state’s policy of promoting the revival and wider institutional use of Irish. The agency was intended to solve a basic infrastructure problem: schools and the public needed textbooks, readers and other publications in Irish, but the language did not yet have a sufficiently large or stable publishing system to meet that demand without state intervention. During its early decades, An Gúm published both original Irish writing and translations. Its output included educational books, general literature and works intended to increase the supply of reading material available to Irish speakers and learners. The agency also supported Irish-language authors financially and editorially. Among the writers associated with its publishing programme were Máirtín Ó Chadhain, Seosamh Mac Grianna and Tomás Ó Criomhthain. Reprints and new editions of important books first published in the 1920s and 1930s remain part of its historical contribution. Translation was particularly important in the early years. An Gúm issued Irish versions of works by British, American and Irish authors, along with selected material translated from other European languages, including Chekhov short stories. The selection of titles was not free from controversy, and Ernest Blythe was criticised over some of the choices made during the agency’s early period. From 1940 onward, literary translation declined as a proportion of the programme, while original Irish writing and practical educational publishing assumed greater importance. The agency also contributed to the development of Irish-language drama. Drama was considered useful to the language-revival movement, and translations helped expand the repertoire available to Irish-language theatres such as Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe. An Gúm’s work extended into music as well. Until well into the 1960s it published musical scores, including scores designed for schools. Its activity was especially significant in the 1930s and 1940s, when it was one of the few publishing outlets available to contemporary Irish composers, including Rhoda Coghill, Aloys Fleischmann, Redmond Friel, Carl Hardebeck, John F. Larchet and Éamon Ó Gallchobhair. For much of the twentieth century, An Gúm operated from O’Connell Street in Dublin and later moved to premises on North Frederick Street. The office used Irish as its working language and maintained a library of earlier publications. Its printed books and design history are also represented in collections such as the Burns Library at Boston College, which holds original An Gúm dust jackets. A major institutional change came in 1999. Until then, An Gúm had remained within the Department of Education. Following the Belfast Agreement, its functions were transferred to Foras na Gaeilge, the cross-border implementation body responsible for promoting Irish throughout the island of Ireland. Foras na Gaeilge has a statutory responsibility for the publication of Irish-language educational materials, allowing An Gúm to continue its work within an all-Ireland framework rather than solely as a Republic of Ireland department. In its contemporary form, An Gúm combines publishing with educational-resource development, lexicography and terminology work. It has developed resources for Irish-medium education, including the Séideán Sí programme, designed as an integrated and child-centred course for developing linguistic, cognitive, emotional and creative skills. The programme is particularly associated with Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna and includes books, workbooks, posters and cards. Lexicography has remained a defining part of the agency’s identity. Foclóir Póca, its pocket Irish-English and English-Irish dictionary, became one of the best-known Irish-language reference books. Other major dictionary projects include works by Niall Ó Dónaill and Tomás de Bhaldraithe, as well as the New English-Irish Dictionary and its 2020 concise derivative. In 2025, a new online monolingual Irish dictionary, An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge, was launched with public funding from departments in Dublin and Belfast and additional education funding. These projects illustrate the transition from a primarily print-based state publishing scheme to a broader language-infrastructure role incorporating digital reference resources. Foras na Gaeilge opened its head office at 63–66 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, in 2018, with additional offices including a location in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. An Gúm now operates within this wider institutional network. Its central purpose remains the production and support of publications and resources that strengthen Irish-medium education and encourage the use of Irish in public, educational and cultural life.

1. 2025An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge is launched

   A new online monolingual Irish dictionary is launched with public funding from departments in Dublin and Belfast and additional education support.

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2. 2020Concise English-Irish Dictionary is published

   The Concise English-Irish Dictionary is published as a shorter work derived from the New English-Irish Dictionary.

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3. 2018Foras na Gaeilge opens Amiens Street headquarters

   Foras na Gaeilge opens its head office at 63–66 Amiens Street in Dublin, forming part of the institutional setting in which An Gúm operates.

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4. 2010Séideán Sí development

   An Gúm is developing Séideán Sí, an integrated Irish-medium educational course with books, posters, workbooks and cards.

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5. 1999Functions transfer to Foras na Gaeilge

   Following the Belfast Agreement, An Gúm’s functions move from the Department of Education into the cross-border Foras na Gaeilge framework.

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6. 1960Music publishing continues into the 1960s

   An Gúm continues publishing musical scores, including material intended for Irish schools and works by contemporary Irish composers.

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7. 1940Literary translation becomes less prominent

   The agency’s programme shifts away from undertaking as many literary translations, with original Irish writing and other publishing functions becoming more prominent.

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8. 1925An Gúm is established

   An Gúm is founded within the Department of Education of the Irish Free State to provide textbooks and general publications needed for the state’s Irish-language revival policy.

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A public-service Irish-language publisher and resource developer supporting Irish-medium education, language learning, literacy, lexicography and the broader cultural use of Irish across the island of Ireland.

• Foclóir PócaPocket bilingual dictionary

  Foclóir Póca is an Irish-English and English-Irish pocket dictionary and one of An Gúm’s best-known publications. It is designed as a compact everyday reference for learners, students and Irish speakers. Foras na Gaeilge describes it as an all-time bestseller in Ireland, making it a particularly prominent example of An Gúm’s role in supplying practical language tools to a broad readership.

• Séideán SíIrish-medium education programme

  Séideán Sí is an integrated, child-centred course for teaching Irish and developing children’s language, cognitive, emotional and creative abilities. It was developed as a joint initiative of Foras na Gaeilge and the Department of Education, with particular relevance to Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna. Its materials include books, workbooks, posters and cards for classroom use.

• New English-Irish DictionaryBilingual dictionary

  The New English-Irish Dictionary is a major modern lexicographical project developed through An Gúm’s contemporary language-resource work. It provides English-to-Irish vocabulary and reference information intended for learners, writers, educators, translators and others using Irish in modern contexts. The Concise English-Irish Dictionary was derived from this larger project.

• Concise English-Irish DictionaryBilingual dictionary2020

  Published in 2020, the Concise English-Irish Dictionary is a shorter version derived from the New English-Irish Dictionary. It is intended to provide a more accessible and compact English-to-Irish reference for users who need practical vocabulary and language support without the scope of the full project.

• An Foclóir Nua GaeilgeMonolingual Irish dictionary2025

  An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge is a new monolingual Irish dictionary made available online. Its development and launch reflect An Gúm’s continuing role in building modern Irish-language reference infrastructure, with public funding involving departments in Dublin and Belfast and additional support from the Department of Education.

• 2010Séideán Sí

  Republic of Ireland · Northern Ireland

  An Gúm and Foras na Gaeilge developed Séideán Sí as a structured, enjoyable and child-centred programme for teaching Irish through Irish, especially in Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna.

  Outcome. A suite of educational materials, including books, workbooks, posters and cards, was made available for Irish-medium education.

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• 2025Launch of An Foclóir Nua GaeilgeProduct launch

  Irish-language users required updated monolingual reference infrastructure available in an online format.

  What changed. A new online monolingual Irish dictionary was launched with public funding from departments in Dublin and Belfast and additional education support.

  Aftermath. The launch expanded the contemporary digital dictionary resources associated with An Gúm’s lexicographical role.

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• 2020Publication of the Concise English-Irish DictionaryProduct launch

  The New English-Irish Dictionary project provided the basis for a shorter reference work.

  What changed. An Gúm published the Concise English-Irish Dictionary as a compact derivative of the larger dictionary.

  Aftermath. The publication extended An Gúm’s modern lexicographical offering for learners and other Irish-language users.

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• 1999Move from departmental agency to an all-Ireland frameworkStrategy

  An Gúm had operated within the Department of Education, while the Belfast Agreement established a cross-border institutional structure for promoting Irish.

  What changed. Its functions were transferred to Foras na Gaeilge, giving the agency an all-Ireland role in Irish-language publishing and educational resources.

  Aftermath. An Gúm continued its publishing, lexicography and education-resource work within Foras na Gaeilge’s statutory language-promotion remit.

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• 2025An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge is launched

  A new monolingual Irish dictionary was launched by the president of Ireland. The online resource was primarily funded by government departments in Dublin and Belfast, with additional support from the Department of Education.

  Product launch
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• 2020An Gúm publishes the Concise English-Irish Dictionary

  The Concise English-Irish Dictionary was published as a shorter dictionary derived from the New English-Irish Dictionary project.

  Product launch
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1. An Gúm
2. An Gúm: Mission, history and areas of work